The Arkansaw traveler., 1887-12-17
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to be mischievous and was fond of practical jokes. I never objected to having them played anea myself. ] always took them in good part and kept my eye wide open for a chance to retaliate. One fall, while I was at Aunt Becky's, I went through a se- ries of mishaps and annoyanees. l was the victim of a deft practical joker, who rendered life on the farm worse than in bowling wilderness. Many morning Aunt Becky asked me queer questions that I was at loss to answer. "I doan't see why yeou can't eat your victuals daown stairs like CT Christian bein'. I'd ernuff sight ruther yeoud skin ther pantry shelves at night ef you'd only eat in ther pantry 'ste'd CT bringin' gingerbread ter bed am scatterin' ther crumbs ertween ther sheets. I'd erhaout ez sune sleep on carpet tacks an be done with 1t ef twas me. Yeou never uster cut nao sich didos fore yeour Cousin Elm cum CT visitin'. An she's jest as bad ez yeou be, every bit. She tncks combs, brushes, pin-balls an hay daown ter ther fut CT ther bed. l s'pose them's some CT ceety idees bout keepin' off spooks. Both on ye keep yeour beds like haug pens. Ye'd oughter be made ter sleep on straw 'stid CT feathers"
 received a lecture similar to this each morning. for poor Aunt Becky was so practical it never occurred to her simple mind that Cousin Elm would be guilty of drying gingerbread on the back of the stove, and after ward distributing the crumbs in my bed that they might give an added softness to my couch. And the last thing she would have been likely to suspect was that l would place the hair brushes in Ems bed. Aunt Becky was very unsuspecting coun- try woman. Uncle Jud, however, was not so, and he found out many of my intended tricks and frustrated them. One in particular hardly be- lieve he can ever forgive. had brought home pair of crows, and in- dustriously plucked their feathers, cut off their heads and legs, and ubsti- tuted pigeon feathers in their place, after which I had given Aunt Becky the idea they were pigeons, without actually saying so: but Uncle Jud came across the feathers of the crows behind the barn, and when the broiled pigeons were placed on the table he quietly stepped to the back door and threw them in the wood pile.
 "Them air birds ain't fit ter eat this season O year." he said, "nor any uther time, yew rascal" he added un- der his breath, as he looked hard at me, and slyly pressed my foot beneath the table.
 I waited long time before | had a chance to square accounts with him for spelling that joke; the opportu- nifty came, and made the most of it. Rabbits were exceedingly scarce on the farm, although occasional, traces of them were common. When the frost was on the ground, before the sun caused it to disappear, was the 1 time to track them. l had managed to get two the week after Thanksgiv- ing, and Uncle Jud had taught me how to skin them. He cured the skins, and hoped to bring home with me quite quantity. For several mornings failed to find traces of my trap having been visited but one morning 1 found some curious tracks leading to trap. When I was near enough saw the trap was sprung and a small animal caught in a novel sty le. It's tail was in the jaws of the trap. At first l failed to recognize the spe- cies it represented but when did an idea occurred to me that 1 then had q good chance for revenge on my uncle for throwing away my crow pigeons. l carefully approached the animal and suddenly dealt it heavy blow on the head. Several more killed 1t, and I extricated it from the trap and carried it home by round about route. l skinned, dressed and stretched f. with two sticks, then hung it on a pole. Aunt Becky cooked the body and we had it for dinner.
 "I du b'lieve ma saoul thet boyee's sick, Jud," said Aunt Becky, as Cousin Elm passed her plate the second time for more of the stew. "IIe ain't eat CT mite CT his stew yit."
 Uncle Jud looked hard at me across the table, and blushed. Yes, I blushed, my lad. l blushed easily at that age. After I blushed 1 stuffed my napkin in my mouth, and Uncle Jud nervously fished in his stew and examined his next mouthful before he made it disappear.
 "Pears ter me-" he said, "this tastes ruther rich an fly fer CT rabbitw
 That's ther fattest hare yeou ever seen fore twas cooked. got more'n half CT pint CT grease of it in skim min's," interpolated Aunt Becky, through huge mouthful.
 l ssYeOu grrp fxyas ar rabbifto uues-